Advanced manufacturing supply chain critical to success of Midlands Engine
THE future of the advanced manufacturing industry in the West Midlands is taking on critical importance not just for the new Midlands Engine but for the UK economy as a whole.
The firms operating within the sector have been the backbone of the manufacturing industry for many years; weathering recession and ultimately coming through stronger.
However, the challenges faced by businesses today are arguably the most intense in living memory.
The decision by the UK to leave the EU and the Single Market would have been the worst nightmare for many of the small to medium-sized companies operating in the region but today that nightmare is a reality.
In theory free to scour the globe for new trade agreements, many will feel they have been cut adrift from the rest of Europe where they have been trading successfully for more than 40 years.
As if this wasn’t bad enough, the everyday challenges posed by mounting red tape, sustaining a skills base, having good access to the finance needed to maintain growth, keeping pace with new technology and simply being able to move their goods around, all remain.
The risk factors are considerable – so how can they be overcome and what must manufacturing SMEs focus on in order to remain competitive?
TheBusinessDesk.com, in association with leading law firm Wright Hassall and accountants and business advisor Moore Stephens, is staging a new event which focusses on this most important of sector.
Taking place at the prestigious Manufacturing Technology Centre at Ansty Park, near Coventry on Thursday September 22, a special panel of business representatives will discuss the main issues.
The event will be free to attend but people must register in advance.
The panel features Rowan Crozier, CEO of Birmingham-based Brandauer, Jason Aldridge, managing director of Coventry-based aerospace supplier, Arrowsmith Engineering, Pete Maguire, commercial partner at Wright Hassall and Paul Fenner, partner – property and construction, Moore Stephens. Chairing the debate will be Duncan Tift, deputy editor, TheBusinessDesk.com.
The event will begin at 8am, breakfast provided, ready for an 8.30am start. The discussion should last for an hour after which there will be the opportunity for questions from the audience.
To attend, please register here
